Evaluation of postmortem MRI in death investigation

• Project/Area Number: 16H06242
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Legal medicine
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Makino Yohsuke 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 准教授 (50725017)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥25,090,000 (Direct Cost: ¥19,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,790,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥6,240,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,440,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥7,150,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,650,000)
• Keywords: 死後MRI / 死後CT / 法医画像診断学 / 死因究明 / 法医学 / 法医病理学 / 突然死 / 死後画像 / 死亡時画像診断 / 核磁気共鳴画像 / MRI

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Postmortem MRI examinations with multiple sequences were performed prior to forensic autopsies, and the head, neck, and chest findings were compared with postmortem CT and autopsy findings. As a result, postmortem MRI was able to pick up pathologies and/or traumatic injuries that were previously considered difficult to point out by postmortem CT in areas such as the brain, cervical cord, pulmonary artery, and heart. In particular, it was confirmed that the diagnostic area can be expanded by 3D and/or gradient-echo sequences, which has not been examined so far for PMMR in forensic medicine. In the future, we plan to further study and report and aim to improve the death investigation by applying postmortem image diagnosis including postmortem MRI.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

死後MRIが死後CTに対し、死因究明においてどのような付加価値があるかを示した本研究成果は、異状死解剖率が低く、異状死の死因究明に死後画像利用が広がる日本社会において重要な意義を持つ。死後MRIを利用することで死後CTの限界を超え、より科学的に質の高い死因究明が可能なことが示唆され、世界的に解剖率が低下している中、日本にとどまらず世界各国の死因究明に影響を与えうる。軸索損傷、一酸化炭素中毒による淡蒼球壊死、脂肪塞栓の死後MRIによる指摘は世界で初めての報告であり、学術的意義も高いと考えられる・

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral globi pallidi lesions in a death associated with prolonged carbon monoxide poisoning: a case report (2021)
  • Author(s): Tsuneya S, Makino Y, Chiba F, Kojima M, Yoshida M, Kishimoto T, Mukai H, Hattori S, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 135 Issue: 3 Pages: 921-928
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02506-1
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Postmortem CT and MRI findings of massive fat embolism (2019)
  • Author(s): Makino Yohsuke、Kojima Masatoshi、Yoshida Maiko、Motomura Ayumi、Inokuchi Go、Chiba Fumiko、Torimitsu Suguru、Hoshioka Yumi、Yamaguchi Rutsuko、Saito Naoki、Urabe Shumari、Tsuneya Shigeki、Horikoshi Takuro、Yajima Daisuke、Iwase Hirotaro
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 134 Issue: 2 Pages: 669-678
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-019-02128-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Traumatic axonal injury revealed by postmortem magnetic resonance imaging: A case report. (2019)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Arai N, Hoshioka Y, Yoshida M, Kojima M, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Legal Medicine Volume: 36 Pages: 9-16
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2018.09.019
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Fatal atlantoaxial dislocation due to an odontoid synchondrosis fracture in a child with chromosome 9 abnormality: A case report. (2019)
  • Author(s): Yamaguchi R, Makino Y, Inokuchi G, Hattori S, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Saito N, Kishimoto T, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine Volume: 61 Pages: 92-96
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.11.011
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Postmortem angiography revealing traumatic rupture of the intracranial internal carotid artery. (2018)
  • Author(s): 42.Chiba F, Inokuchi G, Makino Y, Torimitsu S, Motomura A, Yamaguchi R, Hashimoto M, Hoshioka Y, Nasgasawa S, Sakuma A, Yajima D, Saito H, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 132 Issue: 2 Pages: 589-592
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1752-x
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Differences between postmortem CT and autopsy in death investigation of cervical spine injuries (2017)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Yokota H, Nakatani E, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Uno T, Iwase H
  • Journal Title: Forensic Science International Volume: 281 Pages: 44-51
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.029
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Frequency and influencing factors of cardiopulmonary resuscitation-related injuries during implementation of the American Heart Association 2010 Guidelines: a retrospective study based on autopsy and postmortem computed tomography. (2017)
  • Author(s): Yamaguchi R, Makino Y, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Hashimoto M, Hoshioka Y, Shinozaki T, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 131 Issue: 6 Pages: 1655-1663
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1673-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Incidence of three-rooted mandibular first molars among contemporary Japanese individuals determined using multidetector computed tomography. (2016)
  • Author(s): Ishii N, Sakuma A, Makino Y, Torimitsu S, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Chiba F, Hoshioka Y, Iwase H, Saitoh H.
  • Journal Title: Leg Med (Tokyo). Volume: 22 Pages: 9-12
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2016.07.004
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Search and removal of radioactive seeds: another application of postmortem computed tomography prior to autopsy. (2016)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Itoda N, Ikegaya H, Tanaka N, Kinoshita H, Motomura A, Uno T, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Int J Legal Med. Volume: 130 Issue: 5 Pages: 1329-32
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1404-6
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Sexual determination based on multidetector computed tomographic measurements of the second cervical vertebra in a contemporary Japanese population. (2016)
  • Author(s): Torimitsu S, Makino Y, Saitoh H, Sakuma A, Ishii N, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Chiba F, Yamaguchi R, Hashimoto M, Hoshioka Y, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Forensic Sci Int. Volume: 266 Pages: 588.e1-588.e6
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.010
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A rare autopsy case of traumatic rhabdomyolysis associated with intermittent assault. (2016)
  • Author(s): Chiba F, Makino Y, Motomura A, Inokuchi G, Ishii N, Torimitsu S, Hoshioka Y, Abe H, Yamaguchi R, Hashimoto M, Sakuma A, Nagasawa S, Saito H, Yajima D, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Leg Med (Tokyo). Volume: 20 Pages: 40-3
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2016.04.001
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A case of acute subdural hematoma due to ruptured aneurysm detected by postmortem angiography. (2016)
  • Author(s): Inokuchi G, Makino Y, Yajima D, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Hoshioka Y, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Int J Legal Med. Volume: 130 Issue: 2 Pages: 441-6
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1262-7
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Importance of postmortem MRI of the brain for forensic practice (2021)
  • Author(s): Yohsuke Makino, Masatoshi Kojima, Maiko Yoshida, Yumi Hoshioka, Shigeki Tsuneya, Go Inokuchi, Shinya Hattori, Hiroki Mukai, Hajime Yokota, Hirotaro Iwase
  • Organizer: International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 小児頭部外傷に関する法医鑑定の現状と課題 (2021)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 小児頭部損傷研究会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 外因死、特に外傷の死後画像診断について (2020)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 死後画像読影ガイドライン 2020 年版から見る死後画像の活用 web symposium
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 法医画像診断学の確立を目指して (2019)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 第103次日本法医学会学術全国集会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Traumatic axonal injuries detected by post-mortem MRI. (2019)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Arai N, Hoshioka Y, Yoshida M, Kojima M, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: The 8th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Raddiology and Imaging (ISFRI)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Gray/White matter contrast inversion phenomenon due to differences of T1WI sequences in brain post-mortem MR of low-body-temperature cadavers. (2019)
  • Author(s): Kojima M, Makino Y, Yoshida M, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Hoshioka Y, Yamaguchi R, Urabe S, Oya Y, Saito N, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: The 8th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Raddiology and Imaging (ISFRI)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Pulmonary Massive Fat Embolism Detected by Post-mortem Imaging: Comparison of CT and MRI. (2019)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Kojima M, Yoshida M, Motomura A, Inokuchi G, Hoshioka Y, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Kabashima T, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: The 78th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society.
• [Presentation] 一酸化炭素中毒と両側淡蒼球病変 ～一剖検例と文献考察～＜死後MRIでの検出＞ (2019)
  • Author(s): 恒矢重毅, 槇野陽介, 千葉文子, 小島正歳, 吉田真衣子, 岸本充, 横田元, 向井宏樹, 堀越琢郎, 服部真也, 浦邉朱鞠, 齋藤直樹, 山口るつ子, 星岡佑美, 鳥光優, 本村あゆみ, 猪口剛, 矢島大介, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第17回法医画像勉強会
• [Presentation] Virtual Autopsy in Japan (2019)
  • Author(s): Makino Y
  • Organizer: the 30th Royal College of Pathologists of Thailand Annual Meeting
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Postmortem imaging of the cervical spine injuries. (2018)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Yokota H, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Hattori S, Yoshida M, Kojima M, Kabashima T, Uno T, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: RSNA 2018, 104th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of Radiological Society of North America
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Post-mortem CT and MRI findings of massive fat embolism. (2018)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Kojima M, Yoshida M, Motomura A, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Hoshioka Y, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Yamaguchi R, Uno T, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: 7th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Raddiology and Imaging (ISFRI).
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Assessment of the formalin fixation effect on the brain post-mortem MRI. (2018)
  • Author(s): Kojima M, Makino Y, Yoshida M, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Hoshioka Y, Yamguchi R, Urabe S, Oya Y, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: 7th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Raddiology and Imaging (ISFRI).
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 法医画像診断 -PMCT, PMMRによる解剖支援、死因究明、身元特定- (2018)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 日本法歯科医学会第12回学術大会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 死後画像診断読影の基礎 (2018)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 第14回日本法医画像勉強会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Evaluation of cervical spinal injuries by post-mortem MRI with gradient echo sequences. (2017)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Kojima M, Yoshida M, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Inokuchi G, Motmura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Iwase H
  • Organizer: 6th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Raddiology and Imaging
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Massive fat embolism revealed by postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (2017)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Kojima M, Yoshida M, Motomura A, Horikoshi T, Mukai H, Hoshioka Y, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Uno T, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: 10th International Symposium on Advances in Legal Medicine (ISALM).
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 解剖前に施行した死後MRIにより, 外傷性軸索損傷が指摘できた1法医解剖例. (2017)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介, 新井信隆, 星岡佑美, 小島正歳, 吉田真衣子, 堀越琢郎, 向井宏樹, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第58回日本神経病理学会総会学術研究会
• [Presentation] 死後CT及び死後MRIにより評価し得た脂肪塞栓の一剖検例. (2017)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介, 本村あゆみ, 小島正歳, 吉田真衣子, 堀越琢郎, 向井宏樹, 星岡佑美, 千葉文子, 鳥光優, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第101次日本法医学会学術全国集会
• [Presentation] MRIによる剖検前頸椎・頸髄損傷評価の初期的検討. (2016)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介, 小島正歳, 堀越琢郎, 向井宏樹, 吉田真衣子, 矢島大介, 猪口剛, 本村あゆみ, 千葉文子, 鳥光優, 星岡佑美, 山口るつ子, 橋本茉莉, 宇野隆, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第85回日本法医学会学術関東地方集会
  • Place of Presentation: 神奈川歯科大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-29
• [Presentation] 死後MRIを死因究明に応用する予備的検討. (2016)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介, 小島正歳, 堀越琢郎, 向井宏樹, 服部真也, 矢島大介, 猪口剛, 本村あゆみ, 千葉文子, 鳥光優, 星岡佑美, 山口るつ子, 橋本茉莉, 宇野隆, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第52回日本医学放射線学会秋季臨床大会
  • Place of Presentation: 京王プラザホテル
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-16
• [Presentation] Differences between postmortem CT and autopsy findings in forensic investigation of cervical spine injuries. (2016)
  • Author(s): Makino Y.
  • Organizer: 5th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI)
  • Place of Presentation: Amsterdam, Netherland
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-12
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Post-mortem CT features of the lungs in carbon monoxide poisoning. (2016)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Yamaguchi R, Hashimoto M, Yajima D, Inokuchi G, Motomura A, Hoshioka Y, Iwase H.
  • Organizer: The 75th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society.
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜
  • Year and Date: 2016-04-14